On March 8, the School of International Service (SIS) hosted Susan E. Rice, the former National Security Advisor and former US Ambassador to the UN, and NPR/WAMU 1A host Joshua Johnson for a discussion about America's role in the world. At the event, which celebrated the 60th anniversary of SIS against a backdrop of shifting political and policy norms, Ambassador Rice spoke to a packed house about the dangers of abandoning US leadership around the world and why students should pursue careers in government service.

Watch SIS@60: A conversation with Ambassador Susan E. Rice on America's role in the world.

<a href="/sis/news/%E2%80%9Chttps://youtube.com/yM9RFi6DYHQ%E2%80%9D">SIS@60 A conversation with Ambassador Susan E. Rice on America's role in the world</a>

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Celebrating the Bicentennial of Abolitionist Frederick Douglass

Author:

Rebecca Basu

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Antiracist Research and Policy Center Announces "The FD200"

Abstract:

To honor and celebrate 19-century abolitionist Frederick Douglass during his bicentennial, American University’s Antiracist Research and Policy Center has teamed up with Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives for "The FD200."

Topic:

Announcement

Publication Date:

03/12/2018

Content:

To honor and celebrate 19-century abolitionist Frederick Douglass during his bicentennial, American University's Antiracist Research and Policy Center has teamed up with Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives for "The FD200." Throughout the year, 200 people whose modern-day work best reflects Douglass' legacy will be named and honored as part of "The FD200." Honorees will fall into one of seven categories that reflect the immense character of Frederick Douglass: abolitionist, writer, politician, feminist, educator, entrepreneur, and diplomat.

"Douglass was a transformative figure in American history. The efforts of many change agents today-regarding racial justice, human rights and gender equality-will have a transformative effect on the future of the United States and on the world," said Ibram X. Kendi, founding director of The Antiracist Research and Policy Center and National Book Award-winning author of Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. "We want to recognize those change agents as the most critical legacy of Frederick Douglass."

The Antiracism Center has launched a campaign to solicit award nominations from the public. Award announcements will begin on Juneteenth, the celebration that commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. There are also plans to educate youth on how the honorees' work exemplifies the spirit of Douglass, and The FD200 will culminate in a gala in October to honor the awardees.

On Feb. 14, 2018, the 200th birthday of Douglass, the Antiracism Center and FDFI hosted a gathering to announce The FD200. Two descendants of Douglass and co-founders of FDFI, Nettie Washington Douglass, and her son, Kenneth B. Morris Jr., attended. They hold the unique honor of tracing their lineage to Douglass as well as Booker T. Washington, black American leader and author, educator, and orator of the late 19th- and early 20th-centuries. Nettie Washington Douglass is the great, great granddaughter of Douglass and great granddaughter of Washington.

For more information about the Antiracism Center and to stay up-to-date on the latest news regarding The FD200, please visit the center's
website
and follow on Twitter and Instagram (@AntiRacismCtr).

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College of Arts and Sciences,Media Relations,School of International Service

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Title:

What's the importance of international education?

Author:

Sarah Quain

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SIS Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer and AU VP of Campus Life Fanta Aw speaks about the value of international education for students seeking a truly 21st century education.

Topic:

Education

Publication Date:

03/09/2018

Content:

We spoke with SIS Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer and AU VP of Campus Life Fanta Aw about the importance of international education in advance of the upcoming event SIS@60 Looks at International Education. Join us on March 29 at 5:00 p.m. in the SIS Atrium for this event featuring Aw and Allan E. Goodman, president of the Institute of International Education.

What is international education?

International education is about the mobility of students and scholars who go to another part of the world to study, research, or teach. It's not only about the mobility of students, both in and out of the US, but it's also about research scholars who come to the US to do research, faculty who go to other destinations to teach, and those who do community-based service learning. The primary goals of international education are furthering knowledge and cultural capital, learning about places and cultures, and gaining intercultural skills in the process.

International education has existed throughout time and, throughout time, people have sought education elsewhere in order to better their lives, in order to contribute to their societies and communities, and in order to better equip themselves as citizens of their respective countries. It's not just the US that's been engaged in this activity; many nation states have participated in this kind of work.

What is the importance of international education, and who benefits from it?

You can think about the benefits of international education on several levels. One is international education and the benefit to the individual in pursuit of education, research, or teaching. Another way to think about it is through the nation states engaged in international education: how and why might a government decide to provide scholarships or other mechanisms encouraging citizens to acquire an education overseas? It may be trying to equip citizens with a level of education and knowledge so they can return and contribute to the economy or to in-demand fields in their country. International education may be a form of cultural diplomacy. Employers also have a stake in international education. Some employers incentivize their employees to go and acquire credentials elsewhere because, in this global economy, companies need a workforce with the capacity, skills, and talents to compete globally.

Why would you encourage SIS students to study internationally?

I think international education, particularly in a global economy, is a very important part of a 21st century education. In the world that we live in, no one is an island to themselves, so we need to expose students to the world out there. There are opportunities to learn from all different parts of the world. And now more than ever, isolationists are not who we want to be.

For any student of international relations to have a nuanced understanding of the field, there is value studying abroad. One, studying abroad provides you with varying perspectives on a subject matter. And two, studying abroad contextualizes international relations so that you understand the global dimensions of your work. If you are studying international relations, you need to understand the frame of reference for that work. If you are a student of international development, how do you best study the different aspects and complexity of issues in international development? If you are a student of peace and conflict resolution, how do you study that topic both from a theoretical perspective and from lived experiences of folks in conflict zones and in conflict situations around the world? As you think about all the different fields of study at the School of International Service (SIS), it is important to have a clear understanding of real, lived experiences and of the human condition. Through international education, students are exposed to different perspectives and important nuances.

It's important, particularly for US students, to study abroad. European students understand the value of studying abroad because there is a lot more mobility in the European Union. African students are the most mobile of any group of students in the world. Students in Asia and other places all understand the value of studying outside of their home countries. But how you immerse yourself in the social, cultural, and all the different aspects of a new place is also important. And sometimes what we see is that students move around and study abroad, but they live in bubbles where they try to replicate what they have experienced here in the United States. That's not the real value of an international education. International education requires immersive learning.

I think that we are quite fortunate that, at SIS, most students understand the value of international engagements. They understand that it is not enough to study a country or topic in a classroom setting-you need to go and experience what you study.

Do you have suggestions for how SIS students studying abroad can immerse themselves in new places and cultures?

First, find yourself in situations where you are uncomfortable, where you struggle because you need to communicate with people who speak a different language. There is growth and learning in that. And there is value in learning another language. Being either bilingual or multilingual is a real asset; you can navigate the world in different ways and also gain insight and perspective. Language is a powerful tool for understanding culture.

Second, it's important to not be in a bubble. Part of not being in a bubble is venturing out and discovering the world. And in that process of learning about the world, you will actually learn a lot about yourself. As you go and discover the world abroad, find intentional ways to engage. Engage with the people that you encounter. Engage in subject matters in different ways and with a different lens. Challenge yourself. In that process, you will grow intellectually, personally, and socially.

The third thing I would say to students is that it is all about perspective. Part of learning and understanding the complex, challenging issues of our time requires that you be exposed to multiple perspectives on issues. You can learn that in a classroom or from a theory, but there is nothing that can substitute the human relations part of perspective. When you are overseas, you see the issues on the ground from a different perspective, and that can only enhance and enrich your learning.

Lastly, take advantage of the fact that you have international students on your campus. International students are important cultural translators and cultural ambassadors. The fact that we have international students from all parts of the world means that your learning can begin on this campus. If you read about a specific issue or a specific part of the world, talk to someone who may be from there. Their perspective may not fully represent all people from that part of the world, but it can certainly provide you with another insight. Let's increase engagement between our domestic and international students. It will serve all of us well because our international students have a lot to offer.

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Professor Marcelo Bohrt joins SIS faculty

Author:

Sarah Quain

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Abstract:

Professor Marcelo Bohrt joined the SIS faculty this fall. His work examines how race and racism impact the political inclusion and participation of historically excluded ethno-racial populations in Bolivia and the US.

Topic:

International

Publication Date:

03/09/2018

Content:

Professor Marcelo Bohrt joined the SIS faculty this past fall from Brown University, where he completed a PhD. A sociologist, Bohrt studies the intersection of race, racism, and politics in Bolivia and the US. We sat down with Bohrt to learn more about his research interests as he settles in at SIS.

What are your main areas of research and study?

My research lies at the intersection of three areas of sociology: organizational sociology, political sociology, and cultural sociology. My main focus is on how race and racism shape the experiences of members of historically excluded ethno-racial populations when they access state bureaucracies. I'm interested in understanding how race and racism have shaped organizational structures and cultures, as well as interpersonal relations, within state bureaucracies.

My dissertation research focused on the Bolivian Foreign Ministry since the arrival of President Evo Morales in 2006. Evo Morales was the first indigenous man to become president in Bolivia. Morales' party had a strong indigenous base, and he was elected during a tumultuous time in Bolivia when traditional parties and the political projects they stood for were losing legitimacy. This made it possible to propose radical changes to the state and the country, and to advance a new nation-building project that put indigeneity at the center.

Does this research have broader implications in our world today?

There is a broader relevance to this question of political participation. It's important in itself because it touches on central democratic questions of political equality and inclusion and being able to participate in government. But there's also a discussion in the US and in Latin America about creating representative bureaucracies. How do we build bureaucracies that are representative of the population, whether we're talking about race, gender, or ethnicity?

What are you currently researching?

In addition to my research on Bolivia, I'm currently working on a couple of projects about the incorporation of Latino/a immigrants and their children in the US. One project looks at social mobility and class inequalities, and another examines political participation. In particular, I'm interested in the way that the intersections of race and class shape the socioeconomic and political incorporation of Latinos in the United States.

During political elections and campaigns in the US, we often hear about cleavages between African American, Latino/a, and white voters. So we tend to think about political participation in the US as falling along ethno-racial lines. While that is not wrong, my ongoing research shows that these voters are also internally stratified by class. Race and class shape their political participation and experiences in the US. This is not to say that race does not matter, or that somehow class is more important than race, but that class is experienced in racialized ways in the US. Rather, the political experiences and voice of members of different ethno-racial populations vary according to their class position.

How did you become interested in studying sociology and the intersection of race and democracy?

I'm originally from Bolivia and grew up during a moment of indigenous movements, social mobilizations, and political change in the country. Living in this political context really raised my interest in politics and society. As a teenager, I thought about studying sociology or something similar. Sociologists are very public figures in Bolivia and are very much involved in politics.

What are you looking forward to achieving at SIS?

I hope to continue publishing my research and creating awareness about my findings. We're living in a particular, historical moment for the US and Bolivia in which we're having important discussions about race, racism, and exclusion. The kind of research I do is very relevant to these discussions and can help us think about the ways that racism and race structure our societies.

I'm excited about teaching at SIS because I have an opportunity here to let my research, as well as my academic experiences and personal experiences, inform my teaching. Teaching is the most direct form of service that scholars do for our societies; it's a great opportunity to engage young minds and push them to think critically and comparatively about issues that affect our world.

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Six SIS women who paved the way for this generation

Author:

Kaitie Catania

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To celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of women in international affairs, we spoke with SIS faculty and alumnae who have pushed the limits of their fields and redefined what is possible for our current generation of students.

Topic:

International

Publication Date:

03/08/2018

Content:

Of the first students to earn diplomas from School of International Service (SIS) at commencement on June 7, 1959, not one was a woman. When it comes to educating and graduating women, SIS has come a long way since then. The school now enrolls more than 3,000 students-more than half of whom are women-across competitive undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs. Currently, for the first time in the school's 60-year history, a woman leads SIS as interim dean.

Thousands of impressive women have walked our halls in pursuit of new futures and have gone on to successful careers around the world-into fields like
cybersecurity,
environmental protection, or
international communication, which were perhaps unimaginable at the time of our founding. They've helped lay the foundation for girls across the globe who now have unprecedented access to information, technology, and education.

To celebrate the accomplishments of women in the SIS community, we spoke with a few alumnae and faculty members who have pushed the limits of their fields and redefined what is possible for those who come after them. They have worked with US presidents, pulled up their chairs to desks in C-suites, and challenged the status quo in their professional and personal lives. Through it all, these six women continue to lift others up through the ranks to join them:

Paving the way for women at SIS

Nanette Levinson, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, SIS

Nearly 40 years ago, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
Nanette Levinson first arrived at SIS as one of few women on faculty, starting just three days after she received her doctorate from Harvard University.

As an undergraduate at the same university, Levinson was the first woman from her public high school to be admitted to Harvard-Radcliffe and recalls that some faculty evaluated women students using separate grading curves. In her first year, the dean of students-a woman-told Levinson that she didn't expect her to do well. That conversation stuck with Levinson and motivated her to value all students and never make assumptions based on their background. She went on to earn grades that placed her in the top three percent of all students in her class. "It was clear to me that something needed to change," Levinson says.

Since joining SIS, Levinson has taught courses in the Intercultural and International Communication program and developed expertise in internet governance, technology and innovation policy, communication and development, and social change. She has spearheaded many firsts both for SIS and in her field-from curriculum innovations and establishing SIS's Undergraduate Research Symposium to chairing the American Political Science Association, Sections of the International Studies Association, and being the first woman to chair the Board of the National Conference on the Advancement of Research. In 1988, SIS Dean Louis Goodman appointed her associate dean.

"It has been, and continues to be, really important to me that the next generation of women have not just role models, but also an equal way in the world. There are many implicit barriers out there. For me, it was very special to serve as associate dean from 1988 until 2005 and again, beginning in 2015, because it meant that I could actually try to make things happen and make a difference for the SIS community," she says.

In her current role as associate dean for faculty affairs, Levinson helps bring to the faculty scholar-teachers across various disciplines, codirects and connects students with the AU 2030 Internet Governance Lab, and continues her research and teaching. She has left a lasting impression on thousands of students, like
Seema Khan, SIS/BA '93, who came to SIS looking for female role models, who says of Levinson: "Nanette Levinson is one of my strongest memories of leadership at SIS. Whether she realizes it or not, she shaped many students' lives just by her presence. She was inspirational."

Educating the next generation

Esther Benjamin has worked across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors; for Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton; and for organizations like the Peace Corps, the World Bank, the United Nations (UN), and Grant Thornton. She has worked in more than 100 countries making a positive impact in the world. Now, as a senior vice president for global public affairs and chief benefit officer at Laureate International Universities, which owns and operates higher education institutions in 23 countries and online, Benjamin is helping to improve lives through education. For several years, she also served as Laureate's CEO for Africa.

"There isn't anything more important than higher education for women, young people, and members of any under-represented community, to expand their range of professional options, as well as their ability to positively contribute to society," says Benjamin. Her work at Laureate helps one million students, many from traditionally under-served populations, gain access to quality higher education and achieve their dreams.

Benjamin's career began with a connection she made at her SIS commencement ceremony, where she was a student speaker. She impressed the honorary degree recipient, a UN Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs, who helped her secure a job as a UN humanitarian affairs officer. At 24, Benjamin moved to Somalia with the UN and was one of the youngest officers to serve in that role: "Being a very young female official in the UN was challenging, but starting my career in that way helped me to know that there would be challenges and opportunities in every role that I took on."

She chose to keep an open mind throughout her career. Motivated to improve communities around the world, Benjamin excelled in different arenas, including senior foreign service, global development, and business: "I've been intentional about working across sectors and developing skills across sectors." Resilience and persistence are skills that have served Benjamin well as a woman in C-suite positions.

From her experience in higher education, those same skills have proven crucial for her students' success. Benjamin says that, in addition to serving in the Obama administration as the associate director of global operations for the Peace Corps, one of the most rewarding experiences in her career was leading a Laureate university in South Africa: "Contributing to the social mobility of first-generation university students, seeing them earn their degrees, go on to impressive careers, and lead successful lives as leaders in their communities and countries was an extraordinary experience for me."

Benjamin says that SIS's service-minded approach to international relations and development has been the foundation of her professional life. Today, she stays connected to the school as a member of the Dean's Advisory Board and encourages young women at SIS and around the world to pursue careers with positive impact and contribution with the mindset that "anything is achievable."

Securing a safer world

Laura Rosenberger, SIS/MA '04,Senior Fellow and Director of the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

During her senior year of college, Laura Rosenberger recalls being undecided whether to pursue foreign policy or domestic policy after graduation. Then something happened that clarified her choice: "I woke up the morning of September 12, 2001, and felt like my decision had been made for me. I needed to do my part-whatever I could-to create a more stable and secure world, so that something like 9/11 would never happen again."

Rosenberger enrolled in the International Peace and Conflict Resolution MA program and today enjoys a rewarding, albeit challenging, career in the national security field. As a Senior Fellow and Director at the German Marshall Fund, Rosenberger analyzes and develops ways to prevent and deter foreign interference in democracies. At the moment, she's got her hands full with Russia.

"The way I see it, Vladimir Putin has updated an old Cold War playbook with new technologies that he is using as a new form of warfare," she says. "From the foreign policy perspective, it's really important that we begin to understand those tools in a much more rigorous way and develop meaningful ways to defend against and deter them; not only because Vladimir Putin will continue to actively use these tools, but also because other authoritarian powers are already learning lessons and beginning to adapt some of these tactics as well."

Prior to joining the German Marshall Fund, Rosenberger was a foreign policy advisor to Hillary Clinton, worked extensively for the US Department of State under multiple presidential administrations and White House National Security Council under President Obama, and completed a Presidential Management Fellowship. Some of her career highlights include helping secure approval of a humanitarian mission that saved tens of thousands of Yazidi people stranded on Iraq's Sinjar Mountain from an attack by ISIS and preparing President Obama for his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Throughout her career, Rosenberger has been no stranger to the challenges that women in her field and in the workforce writ large face every day. Recently, she participated in a candid roundtable discussion for
POLITICO about gender-based issues in the national security field, a decision she made to publicly address barriers that hold back women in the work place.

On an international scale, Rosenberger notes that these gender-based barriers, in addition to women's lack of access to education, pose serious threats to security and world order. Specifically, she applauds activists like Malala Yousafzai who champion education reforms that helps girls "get in the starting gate with the skills necessary to compete on the track."

"There is no question about the nexus between women's rights and national security, stability, and prosperity across the board. Women's rights are absolutely a strategic national security issue in my mind, and education plays huge role in that."

Bridging advocacy and academia

Vidyamali Samarasinghe, Professor, SIS

During her nearly 30 years of teaching at the School of International Service, Professor
Vidyamali Samarasinghe has proudly watched the number of female faculty members grow. As a scholar-practitioner focused on gender in developing countries, the female workforce-whether overseas or right here on campus-is prime on her mind.

What she strives to impart on to her students is just how small the divide really is between gender issues in the US and in developing countries that can seem a world away: "To me, feminism is not only a scholarly endeavor, it is also a practice. It is very important to me to transmit what I learn on the ground to my students, as well as to the larger community. I always tell my students to start looking at this issue within their classes: do not separate the West and what we call 'the rest.'"

Samarasinghe recalls a pivotal moment in the early years of her academic career when she was conducting geography research that focused on gender and relied heavily on statistics. She noticed there were no published statistics on women's work.

"I wondered why that was so, and I realized that
somebody had to probe to see why women's work-which is so important to the survival of the household, the economy, and the country-had not been brought into published statistical data. That is what spurred me into researching issues of women at first, and then into analyzing and understanding how women are placed within the context of the socialized aspect of gender."

Samarasinghe's research has gone on to explore gender in South East Asia, female sex trafficking, women's work around the world, and the impact that conflict has on women.

On campus, she engages with American University's chapter of She's the First, an organization that promotes activism and advocacy for girls' education. In her own classroom, she tries to build her students' awareness of societally-ingrained behaviors and ideas they themselves may subconsciously hold. For example, she points out how male and female students participate differently in class discussions.

"In classes, speak up. It is important to make your voice heard," encourags Samarasinghe. "Some students may feel that speaking up is not feminine or they think it is aggressive. It's not aggressive, not at all. I would say it is simply voicing an opinion, and it is important to have a space to articulate concern and to show an equal right to do whatever you wish to do."

While gender barriers have existed for millennia, Samarasinghe sees a contemporary and progressive shift in the status quo. However, she's quick to note that this rapid wave of women's rights is met with some resentment. An important aspect of her work is trying to understand how to bring men into the fold while reducing their perceived sense of threat.

"I haven't found a solution yet, but little by little, we are making progress in trying to show that issues of gender and issues of feminism are a mental frame in which both men and women are valued for whatever they do in society on equal terms. That really should be the way we generally identify 'equality.'"

Taking a seat at the table

Seema Khan, SIS/BA '93,Senior Advisor of the General Sports Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

"When I was a child, I really wanted to be an astrophysicist. I thought it was the coolest job in the world," says Seema Khan, senior advisor of the General Sports Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. At age 10, that dream fell by the wayside after her science teacher told her that women couldn't be astrophysicists. Khan didn't question the logic.

However, as a second-generation American who grew up exposed to international issues in the US and Pakistan, international relations was a natural fit for Khan. After completing her undergraduate studies at SIS, where she recalls being inspired by
Associate Dean Nanette Levinson, she went on to study international law and human rights and to earn a law degree.

From there, Khan's career took an unexpected detour: "I coincidentally fell into co-founding a start-up during the dotcom internet craze. I ended up being the only female general counsel on Wall Street at that time and I didn't even know it was a big deal."

At just 26 years old, Khan was surprisingly older than most others in her young company and the only woman. She supervised mergers and acquisitions worth more than $100 million, yet was often mistaken as a secretary during meetings. Khan eventually helped successfully sell the start-up to E*Trade for over $250 million.

Around the same time, her family moved to Saudi Arabia for her husband's work. She admits that, even as someone who studied international relations, spoke Arabic, and had travelled extensively, she went into the move with preconceived notions about what living and working in Saudi Arabia would be like as a woman. Khan was pleasantly surprised when she arrived.

She secured a position as a legal advisor to the Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority, which turned out to be "one of the most exhilarating, interesting, and amazing opportunities" she's had. From there, she became chief strategy officer and worked on investment strategy for the country's economy, international relations, and special projects. She was the first woman to attend the World Economic Forum with a Saudi public sector delegation.

Initially the only woman in a senior post in the Saudi government, Khan is now one of many, and is proud to have helped diversify her workplaces, all the way from leadership down: "I have been able to open doors for other people-other women and other men-to do what they would like to do, and that's always been one of my goals."

Insuring brighter futures

Dawn Miller, SIS/BA '93, President and CEO, AXA Insurance Company, US

The connection between the insurance industry and international relations may not seem obvious at first, but after a conversation with Dawn Miller, President and CEO of AXA Insurance Company, US, you might think differently.

"What is very interesting about insurance is that it touches all aspects of our lives: Where we live, where and how we work, our health programs, what we eat, how we're transported, and what we build. Insurance is a financial product and risk management solution that is needed for nearly everything around us to happen," she says.

While Miller is now a top executive in the insurance and financial services industries, she admits that at one point she thought she would spend her professional life in the energy sector in emerging markets. However, with the broad reach of insurance, Miller's work has made positive impacts on everything from sustainable energy sources and environmental protection to helping small businesses and livelihoods thrive around the world.

"From one perspective, insurance can be very tactical and granular, focused on a specific personal or business challenge, while also-by engaging a more holistic risk identification and mitigation effort-addressing broad global themes around sustainability, environmental protection, and economic empowerment. An excellent example of this is the use of parametric solutions to protect small crop farmers from financial effects of bad weather in emerging economies. Through this lens, you begin to see how micro insurance programs can support and help facilitate different groups, helping them build their businesses and protect their families," she says.

Since her undergraduate days at SIS, Miller has enjoyed a truly international lifestyle. She attended graduate school in France as a Rotary Scholar, worked in New York as a political risks insurance broker, then ran a small multi-country investment advisory firm based in Prague, Czech Republic, which focused on industrial privatizations. Following a relocation to Northern California in 2001, she focused on the energy sector and put her government relations training and skills to the test as compliance manager on a power plant. During the US energy crisis, she arrived at AIG, holding positions that took her all over the world, from Europe and Russia to the Gulf States, Southeast Asia, and South Africa. Today at AXA, Miller commutes between New York City, where she works, and London, where she lives with her husband and two children. She also travels internationally as a competitive figure skater.

Between it all, she makes it a priority to mentor women and other young professionals seeking a similarly enriching career path in her field: "We must to continue putting ladders as far down as we can to help pull people up and show up as strongly as they know they can." Miller notes that including young, diverse perspectives is crucial to innovation in any business or sector.

American University and Special Olympics Collaborate to Advance Research on Disability

Author:

Subtitle:

Abstract:

AU and Special Olympics International (SOI) have announced a new collaboration that includes research and educational initiatives focused on persons with intellectual disabilities.

Topic:

Announcement

Publication Date:

03/06/2018

Content:

American University (AU) and Special Olympics International (SOI) have announced a new collaboration that will include research and educational initiatives focused on persons with intellectual disabilities, and that will provide substantial outreach opportunities for students and faculty. As part of this collaboration, for the first time in the history of Special Olympics, AU students who are currently enrolled in the online Master of Science in Analytics program will analyze Special Olympics’ dataset of health information for persons with intellectual disabilities and develop predictive analytical models to inform Special Olympics programs worldwide. This unique collaboration coincides with the 50th anniversary year of Special Olympics and the unveiling of AU’s new strategic initiative on global disability and development, led by its Institute on Disability and Public Policy.

“American University is a leader in research, teaching, and service for people with disabilities,” said AU President Sylvia Mathews Burwell. “We are proud of our history in inclusive learning, and we are excited to partner with Special Olympics to increase our knowledge of disability and development across the United States and around the world.”

“As the world’s recognized leader in providing sporting opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics has been changing lives and attitudes since 1968,” said Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver. “We are delighted to partner with American University to advance public policies, data analytics, and collaborative research that will positively impact our vast network of athletes and the global disability community.”

The World Health Organization and the World Bank estimate that there are more than one billion people worldwide living with some form of physical, developmental, or intellectual disability. According to Special Olympics, approximately 6.5 million people in the U.S. and as many as 200 million people worldwide have an intellectual disability. The AU-Special Olympics collaboration will focus on the intersection of disability, development, communication, information technology, entrepreneurship, and public policy. The collaboration will also offer AU students for-credit internship opportunities with Special Olympics’ work in creating more inclusive communities with a specific focus in urban settings.

“AU and Special Olympics has already performed meaningful work together, including collaborating on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) iOS mobile app, accessible robotics for inclusive global governance, and student internships focused on inclusive cities and communities” said Professor Derrick Cogburn, Executive Director of the AU Institute on Disability and Public Policy. “We are excited about this next stage in our collaboration and look forward to visits by Special Olympics athletes and leaders to our campus and to providing opportunities for our students to visit the Special Olympics headquarters. This collaboration has the potential to bring a real change to millions of people around the world.”

AU President Burwell, Special Olympics Chairman Shriver, and Special Olympics D.C. athlete Novie Craven commemorated the new agreement between the two institutions.

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Title:

SIS ranked a top school in the world for international relations

Author:

Kay Summers

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Foreign Policy magazine placed the School of International Service in the top tier of undergraduate, masters, and PhD international relations programs around the world in its latest rankings.

Topic:

Announcement

Publication Date:

03/02/2018

Content:

In February, Foreign Policy magazine once again ranked the School of International Service (SIS) in the top tier of international relations programs around the world at the undergraduate, masters, and PhD levels. Developed with the Teaching, Research, and International Policy (TRIP) project at the College of William and Mary, the Ivory Tower Survey is based on responses from more than 1500 international relations scholars.

The SIS masters and undergraduate programs both rank in the top 10, with our masters program placing eighth and our undergraduate program ninth. The growing strength of our PhD program, directed by SIS Professor Sharon Weiner, is emphasized by its rise into the top 20, placing 19th this year.

“This recognition from our peers is gratifying and is a testament to the transformational research conducted by our faculty and the hard work of both staff and faculty. It also reflects the high caliber of students who choose to come to SIS and the impact of our alumni. I’m proud to be part of the work that we do here,” said Interim Dean Christine BN Chin.

Foreign Policy releases rankings every three to four years. This year’s rankings come at a time of international uncertainty, largely attributed to the Trump administration’s disruptive approach to foreign policy and international order. Regardless, SIS’s more than 3,000 students see important roles for themselves and for a robust US presence in global affairs.

“Right now, studying international relations is one of the most important things you can do. It’s not so much understanding what’s going on in the world, but it’s also understanding why those things are happening, if they’ve happened in the past, and how we can make sense of what’s going on in the world,” said Kristina Biyad, SIS/MA ’18.

AU Among Peace Corps’ 2018 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities

Author:

University Communications

Subtitle:

Abstract:

AU Among Peace Corps’ 2018 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities

Topic:

Announcement

Publication Date:

02/21/2018

Content:

For the third consecutive year, American University has been ranked among the top 5 Peace Corps volunteer-producing medium size and graduate schools. AU ranked No. 2 among medium size and graduate schools on the agency's 2018 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list, with forty-nine Eagles currently serving around the world.

Since the founding of the Peace Corps by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, more than one thousand American University alumni have served as volunteers in the Peace Corps around the world.AU is the home of Peace Corp Prep., an undergraduate certificate program housed at the School of International Service (SIS). The program combines targeted coursework with hands-on experience, building the competencies that students need to become successful Peace Corps applicants and future international-development professionals.

"The Peace Corps Prep Certificate program empowers our students to develop specialized expertise in community service and in their academic work," said Stephen W. Angelsmith, Director of Peace Corps Programs at AU's School of International Service. "In addition, they gain valuable experience and skills while working with a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer mentor in preparation for future international service roles."

The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing colleges and universities annually according to the size of the student body. This year's rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2017 data as of September 30, 2017, as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers. Since its inception, alumni of more than 3,000 colleges and universities nationwide have served in the Peace Corps.

"Peace Corps service is a profound expression of the idealism and civic engagement that colleges and universities across the country inspire in their alumni," said Acting Peace Corps Director Sheila Crowley. "As Peace Corps Volunteers, recent college and university graduates foster capacity and self-reliance at the grassroots level, making an impact in communities around the world. When they return to the United States, they have new, highly sought-after skills and an enterprising spirit that further leverages their education and strengthens their communities back home."

Sarah Snyder documents the long 1960s and the crumbling of the Cold War consensus.

Topic:

Research

Publication Date:

02/19/2018

Content:

In her new book, From Selma to Moscow: How Human Rights Activists Transformed U.S. Foreign Policy, Sarah B. Snyder avoids arbitrary dates and timeframes. She examines the “long 1960s,” from President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961 to Jimmy Carter’s in 1977. But in some ways, the long 1960s extend even longer. The lessons learned about US human rights policy during that period are still pertinent today, she says.

“It is not that I don’t think history is significant in its own right. But it seems to be a hook into how my students in SIS can think about history,” explains Snyder, an associate professor at American University’s School of International Service.

In her earlier book on human rights advocates in the Helsinki network, she studied the role of ordinary activists. With From Selma to Moscow, she’s mostly looking at how elite actors influenced human rights policy. “I think there are multiple ways that Americans who care about these issues can make their voices heard. But for the purposes of this book, I’m focusing much more on how they can be heard in Washington.”

Among the changes during the long 1960s? Legislation that limited security and economic assistance to governments that violated human rights. New legislation also mandated annual reports on countries that were receiving assistance, which is why we now have the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Congress created the State Department’s Bureau of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs (now the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor), while elevating the head of that bureau to the assistant secretary level.

“I looked at efforts to lobby members of Congress and influence the executive branch, and also how people challenged foreign governments that were engaging in human rights violations. And what I found was that they were able to achieve a number of significant reforms,” she says.

For the book, she conducted extensive archival research in five different countries, five US presidential libraries, and personal papers of members of Congress. She also interviewed key figures: Rep. Donald Fraser (D-Minn.), whose hearings led to institutional reforms, and one of his aides, John Salzberg; James Becket, who co-wrote Amnesty International’s first report on torture in Greece; Mark Schneider, a top aide to Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass); and AU’s own Joseph Eldridge, the former university chaplain who also served as executive director of the Washington Office on Latin America.

Selma and Moscow

Snyder’s book had a different working title, but the version she used came late in the research process. She was reading a report about a rally on behalf of Soviet Jews in 1965—the same year as the heroic Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march in Alabama. A memorable banner over the stage read, “Selma or Moscow/Human Liberty is Indivisible/End Soviet Anti-Semitism!”

She had a researcher track down the photo, and a new, illuminative title was born. “I feel like what I’m doing is picking up on the connections that activists at the time were making, explicitly between the civil rights movement in the United States and the plight of Soviet Jews.”

Her book links domestic and international activism. She notes how civil rights figures served on human rights boards, and people like NAACP head Roy Wilkins and Martin Luther King Jr. called out hypocrisy in American foreign policy.

“They were pointing out the connections between the commitments that Lyndon Johnson was making domestically on civil rights and the commitments they thought he should be making on South Africa or Southern Rhodesia.”

The 1960s sparked immense social change, and she examines how the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements spurred greater interest in global human rights. It sounds counterintuitive, as racial strife at home and American soldiers dying overseas might provoke isolationism. But Snyder describes another outgrowth of the 1960s.

“It’s primarily about a breakdown in the Cold War consensus, and an increasing willingness of Americans, particularly members of Congress, to question the government’s foreign policy,” she says. “Between Vietnam and Watergate, there was an opening for more actors to be involved in foreign policymaking because the ‘imperial presidency’ model had been somewhat discredited.”

Transnational networks also expanded, she says, as more Americans studied abroad, did missionary work, and joined the Peace Corps.

Networks and Communities

Despite newfound activism during the 1960s and 1970s, Snyder observes a surprising level of continuity among presidential administrations.

“There’s no US administration where human rights are consistently prioritized over other priorities, and I’m not saying that they should be. But the Carter administration, despite being outwardly interested in human rights, still made a lot of decisions that suggested that Cold War priorities were more significant,” she says.

One of the book’s noteworthy findings is that the human rights community didn’t surface in the Jimmy Carter era. At times, progress was slow—she argues that Amnesty’s opening in the US wasn’t consequential initially—but there was a network in place.

Fast forward to today, and Snyder acknowledges that human rights groups face an uphill battle. With many Americans concerned about democracy and the rule of law domestically, it’s tough getting citizens worried about atrocities in Syria. Yet she hopes her book can show readers a well-documented, historical precedent.

“I think it offers suggestions for ways in which Americans outside of the government can try to influence US policy. But, also, the ways in which government officials outside the highest reaches of the executive branch can nonetheless have an impact.”

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MA in Intercultural and International Communication celebrates 50 years

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Sarah Quain

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The MA in Intercultural and International Communication at the School of International Service celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Topic:

International

Publication Date:

02/13/2018

Content:

A unique and visionary program, the MA in Intercultural and International Communication (IC) and the School of International Service (SIS) was founded in 1968 to address the increasingly important roles that intercultural relations and telecommunications played in Cold War-era international relations. IC was among a handful of academic programs across the US to study these issues, but the only one to find a home within an international affairs school in the 1960s. Today, IC is the oldest program of its kind.

An emerging field

During the Cold War, the global reach of media via satellite communications expanded and demand for cultural training for US diplomats, foreign aid workers, and business people going abroad increased. It was in this technological and political context that new opportunities and challenges emerged for those concerned about the future impact of communication on international relations.

The IC program was designed to simultaneously explore the "hardware" and the "software" of communication, as well as communication's role in international affairs. To do this, the program uniquely combined the study of international communication and intercultural relations.

"Intercultural relations emerged when scholars were trying to understand how culture shapes the way we make meaning of the world," said Professor Amanda Taylor, the current IC program director. "The field asks how we can understand the ways that cultures think about truth, reality, and meaning, such that we can effectively convey messages and build mutual understanding."

"Part of the vision of establishing the IC program was to look at communications technology as you would any other important technology, whether it's energy and the environment or weapons of mass destruction," said Professor Eric Novotny, who has taught in the IC program for more than 20 years. "It was quite visionary to establish this area at the time, as it was not in the mainstream of international relations scholarship."

Building and growing a new program

The IC program enrolled its first class of 12 students in 1968. Originally, the program was jointly administered by SIS and the Department of Communication in American University's College of Arts and Sciences, but was shortly moved entirely to SIS. SIS Professor Emeritus Hamid Mowlana served as the founding director of the program and, together with SIS Professor Gary Weaver, built up the program in both size and reputation over the next three decades.

Mowlana and Weaver combined several aspects of communication-the technological, the international, and the intercultural-to create a truly interdisciplinary program that drew from psychology, sociology, anthropology, and media studies in addition to traditional international relations.

"IC's interdisciplinary approach is what distinguished the program when it was first founded and is what distinguishes it now," said Interim Dean Christine BN Chin, a former IC program director.

American University had long taught international communication in some form, going back to at least 1951 when a course in international political communication examined "propaganda programs of the major powers" and "the use of various media as instruments of foreign policy," according to a university course catalog. But as domestic and international tumult raged in the 1960s, scholars started to look to communication not just as the vehicle for news and propaganda, but also as a powerful tool for international relations, development, and innovation.

Just one year after its founding, the program was already offering students a range of international communication courses on both the established and the emerging elements of the new field. Courses offered in 1969 included Foundations of International Communications, Psychological and Cultural Bases of International Politics, Information and Persuasion in Cross-Cultural Contacts, International Political Communication, and Political Communication and Foreign Policy. IC's specialization in the connections between culture, communication, and conflict was apparent in these early course offerings and informed by its placement in an international affairs school.

An unexpected home

The decision to place the IC program in a school of international affairs rather than a communications department was itself a forward-thinking idea that allowed for broader engagement with questions of international importance. Novotny noted "the goals of the IC program fit nicely into the traditional mission of SIS, which was firstly to promote peace and conflict resolution, then secondly to engage in strategies for economic and social development. It was natural that the IC program should be an important part of the larger questions SIS was involved in."

Taylor highlighted the idea of building peace as one example of how IC students are trained to approach different cultures and question their own understandings: "How is peace understood in a given cultural context? How might that be different from how Americans understand peace? And how might these differences have implications for our efforts to build a more peaceful world?"

The field today

Since its founding 50 years ago, the IC program has graduated hundreds of master's students and dozens of PhD students. While many of the program's first graduates pursued careers in diplomacy and international organizations, today's graduates enter a wide range of careers in public diplomacy, telecommunications, transnational education, intercultural training, and other fields.

Inspired by the IC courses she took, the 1984 undergraduate commencement speaker Lobna "Luby" Ismail used her moment at graduation as an opportunity to share relevant lessons she learned about the field with her fellow graduates.

"In my speech, my message was that, no matter where we came from or what we studied, through our experience at this international university and in international service, we learned to engage, build relationships, negotiate, and work with an array of people from different backgrounds," she said. Today, Ismail is the founder and president Connecting Cultures, a cross-cultural communication and cultural competence organization.

Dean Chin echoed that sentiment, and asserted that the field remains significant today: "We don't live our lives in segmented ways, and so how we approach our interactions and understanding of the 'other' has to be as complex as our own sense of self. When you enter a new culture, it's not just that people look different from you and speak a different language. They come with historical memories that may or may not involve your country of origin, they may approach resource distribution differently, or they may have different meanings to practices and dimensions in life. The IC program provides students with the intellectual and practical skill sets to navigate that complexity."

As the program celebrates its 50th anniversary, IC students, alumni and faculty continue to create innovative ways to navigate the continued complexity of the roles of culture and new technologies in international affairs.

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Unlocking Opportunities: Advice from Alumnus David Teslicko

Author:

Gwen Coleman

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Abstract:

David Teslicko, SIS/BA ’09, WCL/JD ’12, on how AU influenced his career success.

Topic:

Alumni

Publication Date:

08/11/2017

Content:

When
David Teslicko, SIS/BA '09, WCL/JD '12, first visited AU's campus the summer before his senior year in high school, he says the campus was "welcoming" and "warm" and that he was "excited to be at AU." It was this feeling that not only solidified his love for the campus, but also his choice to obtain two degrees here. He wanted to study at a place that "had both that sense of community, of public purpose, and a general approach to ensuring that everyone succeeded together."

This sense of empowering students to meet their goals has stayed with him since he graduated. He reflected on his experience as a Student Trustee, working with the board on a strategic plan for the university that struck a balance between extracurricular activities and academics. He remembers being moved by the board's mission to "ensure that the university supported students both inside and outside the classroom to create holistically developed young adults to go out into the world."

Following his undergraduate commencement, David stayed involved with his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, as part of their Alumni and Volunteer Corporation. He remained active with them throughout law school and his move to New York. In New York, he also became involved with the Young Alumni Chapter and focused on growing the organization and creating programs to reconnect alumni with AU. This desire to build a sense of community among alumni drove him to further engage with AU as a member of the Alumni Board.

David is now an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. He works on a variety of matters, including antitrust clearances for proposed mergers, investigations of alleged cartels, and white-collar fraud. Work allows him to travel around the world, but David says his favorite part of the job is the people with whom he works. "It's a group of highly motivated, really intelligent individuals, who at the same time are very welcoming, open, and supportive. [They are] really focused on creating teams that work well together and can help each other succeed in the firm."

David got a start on his career during law school. He worked as a summer associate at a law firm that hired him through the on-campus recruitment program at the Washington College of Law. Directly following his graduation, he worked and traveled with a federal judge on the U.S. Court of International trade who had also hired several other AU students in the past. He assisted her on several cases on the Court of Appeals for two years before returning to his firm.

In giving advice to students who may want to follow in his footsteps, David remarks that it's important "to look for opportunities out there. Even if an opportunity doesn't immediately seem like it's going to contribute to your ultimate career path; be open to those opportunities because you never know what kind of resources, skills, or connections you might make that somewhere way down the road would be super important to you or useful in getting you to the place that you ultimately want to be."

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2017 Alumni Association Scholarship Essay

Author:

Alex Li, SIS/BA '21

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Abstract:

My mom is both a caregiver and advisor to me. She was an AU Eagle. I applied to American University because of her.

Topic:

Student

Publication Date:

06/28/2017

Content:

My mom is both a caregiver and advisor to me. She was an AU Eagle. I applied to American University because of her. She inspires me because of her passion to learn which was sparked by her years learning and working at AU. She provided inspiration when teaching and caring for each everyone within the family. My outlook in life is mainly shaped under her guidance because she is a very good listener.

My mom is a caregiver in many ways. She provides care for myself, dad, and my sister who has a disability. She carries out special teaching strategies for my sister after school daily. Also, she is quick and decisive with an eagle's eye when a problem arises. She has also taught me thinking strategies for problems which I could use when solving problems. For instance, she has provided me with thinking strategies about how to look from different angles and to open my mind when solving problems. I have taken this strategy to heart and have applied it to important decisions. I have used this strategy by asking my mother where she went to college and AU was no doubt on my list of best choices.

My mom also provides me with advice during my life. She tells me how to do certain tasks and chores at home and when shopping. She even evaluates and guides me when I make mistakes or gives me improvement advice when I succeed. She tries to incorporate her own teachings from what she learned in anthropology from AU when we travel or talk. For instance, she uses her skills she learned at AU to explain to me new concepts for social interactions and cultural groups. Furthermore, my mother keeps reminding me to "look at the bigger frame of things." This made me consider what I wanted to do after college. I then considered how my mom graduated from AU and how I could follow her in her footsteps.

My mother graduated with degrees in Anthropology and Business. The journey at AU has ignited her passion to learn. Her degrees have given her credibility and expertise which she uses to teach me and my sister when we are at home. I have taken to model her passion for learning and excelled to learn as hard as her in school. Also, my mom worked hard during AU as an assistant to academic counselors. Her job placement has allowed me to consider AU as a promising place to work and study at the same time.

Overall, my mom provides advice and cares for our family and is a fantastic person. She has also showed me that working toward my dreams is an ongoing process and not just a goal. Also, her accomplishments and teachings can mainly be attributed to her study and work at AU. Her passion to learn has given me incentive to discover and consider AU as a main choice for college. Therefore, mom's commitment has given me insight that AU can provide an excellent and worthwhile education to any student.

This scholarship will impact me in a number of ways. For instance, I will be able to use this money to pay off any loans and focus more on my education. I will also be able to uses this scholarship to help me fund trips overseas like the study abroad program. Furthermore, I would be able to use this money for research-based projects or altruistic purposes. That is how this scholarship will impact my life in collage.

I plan to impact the AU community by planning to incorporate technology for humanitarian purposes or research. I will spend my time at AU doing community service and possibly helping students with disabilities. Furthermore, I would like to improve and increase the knowledge of incorporating technology like flying rescue devices or health monitor machines during my stay at AU. For example, if I introduce a faster method or device which is cheap and automated to send supplies or medical equipment to a remote location, I could save and sustain lives while acquiring funding from the government or another institution easily. This will create an impact on the AU community by allowing technology to be another avenue for helping and assisting people. Therefore, that is how I will impact the AU community.

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SIS Alumna Spends Free Time Advocating for Women

Author:

Stephanie Block

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Shayna McCready, SIS/MA '14 shares with the Alumni Association her experiences as an ambassador and founding member of the DC committee for Ladies Get Paid

Abstract:

Shayna McCready, SIS/MA '14 shares with the Alumni Association her experiences as an ambassador and founding member of the DC committee for Ladies Get Paid.

Topic:

Alumni

Publication Date:

03/08/2017

Content:

While her day job is spent as a federal contractor for the US Department of State, Shayna McCready, SIS/MA '14, stays plenty busy and passionate outside of work as an Ambassador and founding member of the Washington, D.C., committee for Ladies Get Paid (LGP).

The educational and community-based organization provides tools and resources to help women advocate for their value in the workplace, which hopefully leads to increased recognition and rewards.

"When I am not managing U.S. funding for diplomacy and development, training for a race, or volunteering at my local Yoga studio and the Washington English Center as an ESL tutor, I am organizing and bringing women together across the DMV," Shayna says. "Since launching LGP in New York in 2016, we've hosted seven town halls with over 700 attendees. Our community is global with over 3,000 members."

Shayna feels the momentum LGP is building will evolve into a global women's movement. She credits her American University School of International Service (SIS) graduate program experience as well as her career in global diplomacy and peacebuilding for her passion in building networks to expand female expectations.

The AU experience provided Shayna with opportunities to engage in various fieldwork experiences. She completed a Graduate Practicum researching factors influencing economic resilience in Rwanda with Global Communities as well as an Alternative Study Abroad (also in Rwanda) and volunteered for needs assessment research in Haiti.

"I wanted to attend SIS to have the opportunities to engage directly with the leadership shaping the world of international diplomacy and development," Shayna expresses. "Washington, D.C. is a unique place to study in that you can read and study a topic in a book and then physically head over to dialogue with individuals working in the US federal agencies, working groups, and forums where the topics you read about are being discussed in real-time."

During her studies, she recalls working under Professor Loubna Skalli Hanna, which provided her the unique chance to explore research on the intersection of development, politics, gender, youth, culture and communication.

"In many places around the world including the US, when women's rights are threatened and systems of equality are undermined, everyone suffers the collateral damage," Shayna says. "No society is immune from backlashes, especially in relation to gender and equality. There is a continuous need for vigilance for women's and girls' full enjoyment of their social, political, and economic rights."

Like any graduate student, I was skeptical about the role
networking would play in my academic schedule at American University. But, at
the student-alumni events I attended my first semester, I learned that true
networking is about the personal connections you make. So forget the fancy
reception rooms and high-powered lunches, real AU wonks can network anywhere:
including next to the giant panda habitat at the National Zoo.

One event I attended to build my networking skills was the
annual SIS Deans Reception, which brought 21 graduate students, staff,
and faculty together with 19 alumni for a casual evening of cocktails and a
tour of ZooLights, the National Zoo’s holiday light display, hosted by Dean
James Goldgeier. Between appetizers, ice breakers, and a speech about the new SIS Office of Career Development,
students and alumni alike felt the strength of the AU connection—as we all say:
"Once an Eagle, always an Eagle."

While networking can be tough, I found that the informal
setting and lighted pathways of the National Zoo allowed graduate students and
alumni to truly come together. At the reception, I saw my fellow students meet
alumni who worked throughout DC. Most students are only aware of a handful of
career options, and meeting alumni who have paved unique career paths broadens
our horizons.

Several of the alumni I chatted with began discussing SIS.
Between recommendations about classes to take and professors to meet, I learned
which skills alumni had learned at AU have served them best in the workplace.
Perhaps the most important moment of networking for me was hearing about the
job searching process from alumni who had been in the position I am in now.
Listening to the tips they had picked up and the careers they have now made me
more confident about finding my next step after AU.

Events like the Dean's Reception not only expose students to
new possibilities, but keep alumni close to the university community as well.
AU's office of alumni relations puts on a variety of events that bring students
and alumni together. Students who are nervous about learning to network can use
the SIS Office of Career Development to broaden their skills. Once you have
your business cards, check out which upcoming
alumni events are right for you!

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AU Launches Crowdfunding Platform

Author:

Joanna Platt

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Abstract:

UFUND is a platform the AU community can use to directly fund projects and initiatives.

Topic:

Alumni

Publication Date:

12/15/2016

Content:

American University's Office of Development and Alumni Relations recently launched UFUND, a crowdfunding platform just for the AU community. This is a new way for alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of the university to directly fund the projects and initiatives they care about most.

AU faculty, staff, and students are planning ventures to shape the future of the community, nation, and world. By making a gift, donors support the development and success of these projects.

Currently, UFUND features five initiatives – The Eagle Innovation Fund, the DC-Area High School Ethics Bowl, an Alternative Break in Cuba, the Skills for Success Career Seminar, and production of the documentary In The Executioner's Shadow.

Alumni,College of Arts and Sciences,Giving,Kogod School of Business,School of Communication,School of International Service,School of Public Affairs

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Jorhena Thomas, SIS/MA ’04: From AU to Homeland Security

Author:

Patricia C. Rabb

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Abstract:

Jorhena Thomas is an AU Alumni Board member and homeland security expert.

Topic:

Alumni

Publication Date:

09/09/2015

Content:

"With my MA from SIS in hand, I was very competitive in the field I wanted to go into," says Jorhena Thomas, SIS/MA '04, while describing the benefits of receiving a master's degree from the School of International Service. "My coursework at AU forced me to think critically, which has served me well in my career progression," she adds.

Born and raised in the Chicago area, Jorhena describes herself as "a Midwestern girl through and through." She earned a bachelor of arts in international studies from Oakwood College in 1998 and a master of arts in international affairs from AU in 2004. Jorhena formerly worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation as an intelligence analyst for eight years. During this time, she spent five years focused on international terrorism investigations at the Washington Field Office and three years in the International Operations Division as the intelligence program manager for the FBI's 11 Legal Attaché offices in the Americas region.

Jorhena is now deputy director and operations manager for the Washington Regional Threat Analysis Center, which is a division of the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency. In this role, Jorhena ensures that relevant intelligence information and analysis products get to the right people at the local, state, and federal levels, with a particular emphasis on public safety issues in the District. "I can only do this through a wonderful and dedicated team of analysts, liaisons from partner agencies, and interns," she exclaims. WRTAC focuses on all public safety issues—including terrorism, law enforcement, emergency management, and critical infrastructure protection.

During her time at AU, Jorhena remembers watching the buildup to the Iraq war while taking a class with Dr. Clovis Maksoud. She recalls him providing "incredible insight and perspective" as events developed over the course of several months in that region. Jorhena also joined a "wonderful array of dedicated and passionate fellow students" as a member of the Student Organization for African Studies while on campus.

As an alumna, Jorhena enjoys giving back as a member of the AU Alumni Board and as a SIS alumni-student mentor. The experience of being a mentor to a current AU student is something she finds extremely rewarding. "I've learned as much from my mentee as she's learned from me," she says.

In her spare time, Jorhena enjoys reading biographies, getting great deals in thrift stores, and traveling to exciting destinations with her two children: an 11-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old son. One recent highlight was taking her children on their first international trip. The family traveled to Guatemala where they enjoyed time with a host family, learning how to harvest fruit from trees, wash laundry by hand, and hand-grind coffee. "It was eye opening, humbling, and fun," she says.

Although she is undoubtedly busy with both work and family, Jorhena is impassioned about volunteering. "I volunteer at AU because I think it is a great institution and I want to continue to be a part of what makes it great," she says.

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Alumni,Alumni Board,Alumni Relations,Alumni Update,Mentor,School of International Service

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Title:

SIS Alumna Helps to Raise Funds for Small Nonprofits in NYC

Author:

Stephanie Block

Subtitle:

Abstract:

Dana Williams, SIS/MA '86 wears two hats as a real estate professional and nonprofit fundraiser.

Topic:

Alumni

Publication Date:

05/14/2015

Content:

Having the unique privilege to meet and work with people from around the world with fascinating lives is the best aspect of her work, says Dana Williams, SIS/BA '86.

When the economy declined a few years ago, the real estate professional sought other sources of income and experience. Through her search, Dana discovered The Funding Network USA (TFN) New York and enthusiastically approached the organization on various occasions to serve on their team.

TFN is a global organization that hosts live crowdfunding events on behalf of grassroots, social impact non-profit organizations. The first organization to benefit from TFN's fundraising work is Harlem Grown, a small non-profit with a mission to inspire youth in Harlem, N.Y. to live healthier and more ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition.

Dana has also served as a board member for Habitat for Humanity NYC, as gala co-chair and mentor for Children's Aid Society and volunteered at the 1st Tribeca Film Festival.

Dana was attracted to AU's School of International Service mostly because of her lifelong intrigue with Keyna. "SIS encouraged a study experience abroad, so I chose to study in Kenya for a semester," she explains. "Going to school in Washington, DC was an exceptional opportunity that I never took for granted."

Dana's memories of her undergraduate experience are certainly fond. "I remember a small group of us meeting at the Tavern after Professor Duncan Clarke's energetic and inspiring lectures to simply talk about the world," she shares. "Some of my activities included mentoring and interning on Capitol Hill with an organization that lobbied for U.S. sanctions against the South African government."

From showcasing an apartment with a balcony overlooking Central Park to traveling to Harlem Grown to coordinate TFN's summer event which they will host in its garden, no two days are ever the same for Dana.

Regardless of how busy her days get, Dana says always has time to stay connected with friends from AU. "I made the most valuable and lifelong friendships at AU," she says. "I have a core group of close friends from AU that live in Australia, California and nearby."

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Title:

Be Curious and Stay Connected: Lessons from Tony Silva, SIS/MA '94

Author:

Megan Patterson, SIS/BA '11

Subtitle:

Abstract:

Tony Silva, SIS/MA ’94, looks back on his AU experience and his international communication master’s program.

Topic:

Alumni Profile

Publication Date:

02/09/2015

Content:

"Be curious and remain curious."

Tony Silva, SIS/MA '94, values this philosophy as one of the most important things that he learned from his master's degree in international communication at American University's School of International Service. Having graduated with a degree in journalism from New Mexico State University, Tony came to AU, and SIS specifically, with a passion to do good in the world. Throughout his career, and now as executive vice president of Social Change at Ogilvy Public Relations, he is doing just that.

Looking back on his career, Tony knows that he has always been striving to make the world better. He describes the work that he and his colleagues at Ogilvy do, saying simply, "Social change is ultimately to improve the human condition." He credits the diversity at AU for helping him realize his "interest in travel, interest in issues, and how these issues effect a global population."

While Tony went straight to the SIS master's program after graduating from college in New Mexico, not everyone else did. He valued the diversity of his peers, both globally – "Many of my classmates were from other countries or had spent a significant amount of time abroad" – and professionally – "I got to just learn not only from the professors, but from everyone around me."

Tony knows the value of his degree, and he says that in his experience, the Washington, D.C. community values it as well. "Many AU alumni stayed in Washington for 25 years," he says, "so AU is well respected." Tony also is a big proponent of continuing to engage with the university. What's one reason why he encourages others to be engaged with their alma mater? "I got a private tour of the new SIS building before it was opened! That's one of the nice perks of staying connected with the university."

5 things Tony Silva says his AU experience taught him:

Be curious and remain curious.

Stay engaged and interested in many things.

Bring new thinking into the workforce.

Allow and accept the evolution of communication.

Stay connected with people. Staying connected helps operating in this world a little bit better.

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Alumni,Alumni Update,International Communication,School of International Service,SIS Career

At age six, Daniel Alejandro Leon Davis, SIS/BA ’13, came to the United States from Venezuela with his mother to visit siblings in Miami. Instead of returning home, Daniel and his mother stayed in the U.S. permanently, though they were undocumented. Despite what seemed to be insurmountable odds, Daniel persevered. He received AU’s prestigious Abdul Aziz Said Phi Epsilon Pi Scholarship, graduated Magna Cum Laude, and won the Fletcher Scholar Award for exemplifying integrity and selflessness in citizenship while achieving academically.

As an AU student, Daniel was the first undocumented intern for the Clinton Global Initiative, part of President Bill Clinton's philanthropic foundation. Now, he is chief of staff to Michael Skolnik who is a civil rights activist, political director to hip-hop pioneer Russell Simmons, and president of GlobalGrind.com.

“My mother lived the American dream,” Daniel says. Although his mother can’t speak English, she put on a brave face and gave her children everything she could, working as many as three jobs and eventually becoming the top interior designer for Mercedes Homes.

It is clear Daniel’s mother is his inspiration and champion. Looking back at his childhood, he recognizes the signs that she struggled because they were undocumented. He remembers nights when his mother would go without food; her constant apprehension around police officers (even mall security guards) for fear of deportation; and frequent visits to her lawyer’s office. Undocumented immigrants often live in such secrecy and fear, it is not uncommon for them to hide their status from their children, which is why Daniel did not learn he was undocumented until his senior year of high school.

Daniel dreamed of attending an Ivy League school, but the country's economic crisis derailed those plans. His mother could no longer afford the tuition, and his undocumented status disqualified him from financial aid and scholarships, so he enrolled at Seminole State College and earned his associate’s degree. Many prestigious four-year schools accepted Daniel’s transfer application but would not allow him to attend because he was undocumented.

When he called American University and revealed his status, his admissions counselor said, “Oh, you’re a dreamer! We have a way of putting you into the system,” and enrolled him despite his being undocumented. Although he again faced financial obstacles, he would not be deterred this time.

"I gave up on my dream once. I'm not giving up on my dream again. I don't care what I have to do. I'm going to American University," Daniel told himself. He called 95 scholarship organizations and asked if any of them would accept an application from an undocumented student; only three said yes: the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Coca Cola, and Phi Theta Kappa.

At his graduation ceremony, the president of Seminole State announced to Daniel, his mother, and the entire school that Daniel won all three scholarships he applied for, which totaled more than $160,000. He says, "That's the day my life changed. That's the day that everything was worth it, the day that I live for every single day."

Still, life was not easy. The scholarships did not take effect until after his first semester at AU, so Daniel couldn’t afford housing and stayed with friends instead. In October 2011, he “came out” as undocumented by wearing a sign announcing his status on LGBTQ National Coming Out Day. He told his story at an event that evening. After that, he says, “Strangers would come up to me on campus and say, ‘Hey, did you eat today? Do you want me to swipe you in to TDR?’ I felt what community truly meant at AU and that people really stand for what they believe in there.”

Unlike other students preparing for graduation, Daniel knew he wouldn’t be able to find a paying job because he was undocumented. Still, he wanted to use his personal experience and success in creating social change on a larger scale. “I introduced myself to Michael Skolnik [at an event] using the networking skills I learned in one of my classes at American,” Daniel says. Through a friend, he got a meeting with Michael and worked on some projects for him. Michael was so impressed with Daniel’s work that he immediately hired him as his chief of staff.

It was a shock. “I figured I’d be an intern,” Daniel says. Instead of interning, Daniel runs a team charged with harnessing celebrity power, especially on social media, to create social change. He has worked with Alicia Keys, P. Diddy, Common, and countless others.

Daniel also finds time to give back to the American University community as a volunteer with the Latino Alumni Alliance and as a social media ambassador. He volunteers because, “AU gave me a lot, a lot, a lot! From Dr. [Fanta] Aw making sure I had housing, to people making sure I had scholarships, professors spending so much time with me and caring for me. … My service is a way to pay back all the ways people helped me at AU. And if I can help that next undocumented student who goes to AU, or help that next Latino student, I want to do that. For me, volunteering means knowing I get to be a part of a community that lasts forever outside of campus.”

Daniel is now married and is an applicant for permanent residency in the U.S.; the Washington College of Law legal clinic is assisting him with his application process.

Daniel's AU education was possible thanks in large part to donor-funded scholarships including the Barbara Bohn Wright Memorial Scholarship, the Annette Langdon Scholar-Activist Award, and the Abdul Aziz Said Phi Epsilon Pi Scholarship. Learn more about how donations to AU make a difference in students' lives.

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Title:

SIS Alumna Writes to Showcase Modern Challenges in U.S. Identity

Author:

Karli Kloss

Subtitle:

Abstract:

Carla Seaquist, SIS / BA ’67 strives to give space to many of the complicated, and at times, ephemeral social and political issues facing our country.

Topic:

Alumni Profile

Publication Date:

05/08/2014

Content:

As a writer and playwright, Carla Seaquist, SIS/BA ’67, strives to give space to the complicated political, cultural, and ethical-moral issues facing our country. She began her career in civil rights activism, helping to organize the women’s caucus at the Brookings Institution from 1972 to 1976.

She then moved to San Diego where she served as the city’s equal opportunity officer from 1977 to 1983, successfully moving women and minorities into nontraditional jobs. For this work she was awarded NOW’s Susan B. Anthony award “for courage and hard work on behalf of women and minorities.”

The shift from civil rights to writing was a logical progression, Seaquist says. She began working as a freelance writer until she moved on to playwriting.

During the siege of Sarajevo, Seaquist reached out to the manager of a Bosnian radio station. They built a unique relationship over the phone. She turned their conversations into a play, Who Cares?: The Washington-Sarajevo Talks, a universal drama about the saving power of human connection in chaos. This play has had three productions, including at Washington’s Studio Theatre. Seaquist has written three other plays.

The shift from playwriting to more direct commentary happened on September 11, when she witnessed the Pentagon on fire. As a result, Seaquist became a contributing writer for The Christian Science Monitor and, now, The Huffington Post.

“I have found the SIS take-away tool–the need to develop a conceptual framework–very useful,” Seaquist states. “International relations made me a world citizen, providing me with an outlook that’s global, not parochial, and a keen interest in history and other cultures–all very helpful in writing commentary.”

Seaquist lives in Washington state with her husband Larry, a state legislator, and is working on a play titled Prodigal.

Tags:

Alumni,Alumni Newsletter,Alumni Relations,School of International Service